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Metabolism of Nitrate Esters by a Consortium of Two Bacteria

Nature Biotechnology volume 14, pages 320–322 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

The products of condensation of organic alcohols and nitric acid are nitrate esters with the general structure C-O-NO2. These products are widely employed as vasodilators and explosives, and are true xenobiotic compounds, as they do not occur in nature. We have isolated and characterized a consortium of two microorganisms, Arthrobacter ilici's and Agrobacterium radiobacter, that mineralized recalcitrant ethylene glycol dinitrate. The Arthrobacter strain was the actual degrading microorganism, although the second microbe facilitated mineralization. The biodegradation of ethylene glycol dinitrate by A ilicis involved the progressive elimination of the nitro groups from the organic molecule to generate ethylene glycol, which was then mineralized. Waters polluted with ethylene glycol dinitrate have been shown amenable to biological treatment in a pilot plant with wastewaters generated during the synthesis of the chemical in a factory.

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Author notes

  1. Juan L. Ramos: Estacion Experimental del Zaidin, Apdo 419, E-18008 Granada, Spain e-mail: jlramos@eez.csic.es

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants, Consejo Superior de Investigations Cientificas, Profesor Albareda no 1, E-18008, Granada, Spain

    Ali Haïdour, Estrella Duque & Guadalupe Piñar

  2. Unión Española de Explosivos, Fábrica de Páramo de Masa, E-09080, Burgos, Spain

    Victor Calvo

  3. Unión Espanola de Explosives, Department of Research and Development, E-28042, Madrid, Spain

    José-Miguel Oliva

Authors
  1. Juan L. Ramos
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  2. Ali Haïdour
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  3. Estrella Duque
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  4. Guadalupe Piñar
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  5. Victor Calvo
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  6. José-Miguel Oliva
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Ramos, J., Haïdour, A., Duque, E. et al. Metabolism of Nitrate Esters by a Consortium of Two Bacteria. Nat Biotechnol 14, 320–322 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0396-320

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